Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Not Going OUT of Africa, but going INTO Africa...and Italy

So, I am off on May 30 and here is the plan...

Rwanda:
In conjunction with Rabbi Joel Soffin and Jewish Helping Hands

Sewing Collective: I will be meeting with and interviewing a group of women who are endeavoring to leave sex trafficking for a better life. They are starting a sewing collective with the help of global grassroots (Conscious Social Change for Women) so they can learn new skills and have an alternative income for prostitution.


Meg School :
The meg school provides education in Rwanda for children affected by the genocide (most the schools and school systems were destroyed in the battles). I will be bringing in 50lbs of donated supplies for their educational use. I will also spend the day with the kids at the school, hearing t=
heir stories, learning about what they are doing.


Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village:
Based on the principles of Yemin Orde in Israel, The JDC is working to help raise the many children orphaned in the Rwandan genocide. The village, currently staffed by Israelis and Rwandans, has just opened this past year and is flourish. They are committed to green living a=
nd even have their own farm


Uganda
Teach and Tour:
TATS' mission is to bring developing-world education to the global south/3rd world/Africa+ (depending on whose language you are using). TATS will be sending me to many different villages in Uganda to teach. I will also be staying with some of the families as well as spending shabbat with the Ugandan Jewish community.


Italy
he International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC):
The International Interreligious Affairs Department
of the American Jewish Committee is sending a few delegates from HUC to participate in a Jewish-Catholic leadership conference and dialogue at Castel Gondalfo, Rome (Castel Gondalfo is the pope's summer residence, apparently). There I will be engaging in interfaith work which feels critical at this time given the latest news on the new pope and some of his recent actions/decisions.



I would truly appreciate the opportunities to pay this forward and share my learning. I also would love to have your support.

Taking this trip on is overwhelming!! Especially as I get closer to it. So, come along with me!!


If you would like to make a donation to me through Jewish Helping Hands, you can do so by clicking here. Or you can donate to me directly through paypal.

If you know of
institutions who might be interested in partnering with me and helping to create a forum for sharing this information and these experiences, please pass this along.


With the words of Isaiah 6 ringing in my ears..."Here I am, send me..."